Apple TV has bought the worldwide rights to "Small Prophets," breaking with how it normally operates by acquiring an existing English-language hit rather than commissioning a show of its own. Apple TV has typically developed or commissioned shows in-house and given them their premiere on the service. This was the model behind the BBC's "Trying," which Apple TV+ produced first and later licensed to the BBC once its own run had finished.

"Small Prophets" marks new ground since it is an English-language series that had already become a broadcast hit elsewhere before Apple stepped in. The acquisition follows a run on BBC Two that produced the strongest 28-day launch numbers for a comedy on the channel since 2022, a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the International Panorama award at this year's Series Mania festival.

The show, written, created, and directed by Mackenzie Crook, will stream on Apple TV worldwide starting on October 7, with the exception of the UK. *Deadline* compared "Small Prophets" to "Ted Lasso," favoring a gentler, more serialized storytelling style over a traditional sitcom.